And the Blinkie Award for Local Bike Shop goes to...

When Atlanta BeltLine Bicycle opened on the Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail, not many people realized what a central role they'd come to play in building community.

In addition to offering used bikes for sale, bike repair, and rentals, Benjamin and his staff offer a meeting place for local bike groups and events like the Atlanta Cycling Festival, Bike Commuters of Atlanta, MOBB ATL. They've even hosted a promotional video shoot for ABC featuring Mayor Reed sharing his goals for Atlanta's bike network! Here are Atlanta BeltLine Bicycle's answers to our blinking questions:

1. How would you describe how your work (or play) has made Atlanta more bikeable? Don't be modest!

Atlanta BeltLine Bicycle has provided a service that the city of Atlanta didn't have before - the used bicycle. The used bicycle has helped more than one person get their butt on a bike by not having sticker shock. It helps those thrifty people to get on a bike, helps the college student to get on a bike, and more importantly it helps the beginners to get on a bike.

2. What motivates you and keeps you going?

Running a bicycle shop is not an easy task. However, it can be a stress free work environment for much of the day. We enjoy working on bikes and we enjoy talking and helping people who come through the shop.

3. If you had a magic wand and could wave it over Atlanta, what would happen?

All the roads that made cycling in Atlanta easier would have protected bike lanes.